When we were in Brecon for an auction recently, I decided to check out a couple of local churches which held early Christian crosses. This church is St Peter and St Illtyd's at Llanhamlach, and was easily found, just off the A40 beyond Brecon. There are several dedications to Illtyd in this area, and indeed just half a mile away is a Neolithic burial mound bearing St Illtyd's name.
My camera wasn't very good (or rather I WASN'T VERY GOOD) at photographing the Moridic Cross. Hence starting with the interpretation in the Church, so you know how the stone actually looks.
This stone was discovered in the demolished medieval rectory where it had been used as a lintel. It's been dated to the 10th or 11th C and bears the inscription JOHANNIS MOREDIC SUREXIT HUNC LAPIDEM. Unfortunately the top of the stone is broken off, but there remains a Latin cross with forked ends, and below this are male and female figures with their hands raised to the side of their heads. Whoever the female figure is (and I think my money is on Brychan's daughter, St. Eiliwedd, due to the field name nearby), the latter would appear to be lactating!
Above: the St Eiliwedd figure is partially visible.
The top half of both of the figures.
The lichen-encrusted stone in its entirety.
The alter with modern paintings of Angels.
The tryptych above the stone, beautifully painted.
Below: I thought it fitting that those who died in WW1 and are remembered in this church, should be remembered again, a century on.
Above, the surname Prosser is obviously a local one here.
Above and below: these were very old grave slabs which had been put into the porch to avoid any further erosion. One is the Aubrey/Aubray family.
Below, finally another piece of carved stone from early medieval times which has been incorporated into the western wall of the tower.
Many thanks to Sarah and John Zaluckyj' book "The Celtic Christian Sites of the central and southern Marches for information reference this site.
Really interesting - what set you off on this path then? We are surrounded by cemeteries. Just down the road, one for each century in the middle of nowhere. Must go and investigate.
ReplyDeleteI have always been interested in early crosses, even when I was in my 20s and going round Dorset taking photos of village crosses. Then when I did my degree, I chose the equine iconography of the Pictish symbol stones, and so going to see the early christian crosses in Wales is a similar thing. I have just joined a Facebook group which has flamed my interest again.
ReplyDeleteYou get all sorts of interesting memorials in cemeteries and churches. Should be some Pictish bits around your way I would have thought.
Very interesting. I love walking through old graveyards and wondering about the families and people buried there.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Yes, some stones tell some sad stories.
ReplyDeleteIt is marvellous how some of these stones are incorporated into the fabric of the church, to be protected for evermore. One day churches will become ruined like the prehistoric circles and barrows, strange thought.
ReplyDeleteYou do lose something when only one aspect of a stone inclusion is on view though. Who's to say what will happen to churches in the long term? We go to an auction held in one in Glos, another we know is the biggest junk shop going, others become homes, and some just disappear forever down the centuries.
DeleteOh gosh! What an interesting church and ancient cross. You do find some fascinating places to visit. Your photos are great - it can be so difficult to get pictures in churches which can be rather gloomy inside. I do like the modern wall painting and I am off now to check out the book you mention! :) Also loved the way the old stone was incorporated in the building.
ReplyDeleteI have visited several churches with ancient crosses recently so will gradually share them RR. This was a difficult stone to photograph for me - there probably IS a setting which would give greater clarification but I need to go back on line to check the setting as they don't give you a written guide any more. That stone was certainly part and parcel of the wall.
DeleteLovely post I have visited a St Peter's Church in Marlborough today, love those angels.
ReplyDeleteHe got about a bit didn't he?! It's been a few years since I was last in Marlborough. Lovely town.
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